A cobpqbation



B. W. BROCKETT.

WORK SHIRT PRESS.

APPLICATION HLED SEPT. 9, 1916.

1,387,099, Patented Aug. 9,1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l- MEMWA. i@ Qmfmmgw.

B. W. BROCKETT.

WORK SHIRT PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPLQ. Isls.

B. W. B ROCKETT.

WORK SHIRT PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPTA, 1916.

1,387,099 Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Pettit?? luliilt.

BLUFORD W. BROCKETT. 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSGNR TG THE AMERCAN LAUNDRYMACHINERY CGM?ANY, GF GNCENNATI, OHM), A CORPGRATION OF OHIO.

wonrnsrrrnr rnnss.

Application filed September 9, 1916.

T0 all whom t may concern.:

lle it known that l, BLUronn Bnoonn'r'r, citizen of the United States,residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Chio, haveinvented certain new and usei'ul Improvements in llVorlr-Shirt Presses,of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to presses, and more particularly to what areknown as workshirt presses.

vWork-shirts are provided with attached soft 'collars and whenmanufactured ar folded up and pressed down 'lat for packing; intobundles or. boxes.' lt is desirable to press the shirt in a manner toimprove its folded appearance and therebyk enhance its value and sellingqualities, but `considerable diiiiculty has been experienced inarranging the collar and holding it in symmetrical iiat form whilepressingV the shirt, due to the cylindrical form of neclrband and thenecessity of stretching and crushing; all ofthe parts, but moreespecially the collar, into an unnatural position down flat. The partsof the shirt have, therefore been liable to become disarranged during`the pressing); operation or while moving' the shirt up to the pressing`position.

rilhe invention has for its object to provide improved apparatus whichenables the operator to` arrange the shirt collar, neelrband andadjacent parts in the most desirable position and so hold them untilinally pressed. thereby producing an attractive appearance and the bestpressing results; and which apparatus can be operated by unskilledlabor, can be applied to various types of pressing machines, and is ofsimple :term and not liable to .fret out of order.

i Further objects of the invention are in part obvious and in part willappear more in detail hereinafter.

The invention comprises the apparatus hereinafter described and claimed.

In the dra-wings, Figure l represents a front elevation of one suitableform of pressing machine with my invention applied thereto, one of thepressing members being` omitted; Fig. 2 is a plan view, on a largerscale? of a lower pressingc head with a shirt thereon in position to lbepressed; Fig. 3 is en end. View' thereof; Figi. 4e is a side eleva-Specieation of Letters latent.

Patented Aug'. 9, 1921.

Serial No. 119,299.

tion thereof; Fig. 5 is a detail view, corresponding to Fie. 4, andillustrating the motionof the holding' plate; and Fig. 6 is a detailView showing` a portion of a shirt with modiiied form of pressing plateor. form applied thereto. i

The pressing machine to which the invention is applied may be of anysuitable form so long` as it embodies the essential relatively movableheated pressing members or bucks between which the shirt is pressed.During the pressing operation said pressing' members are advanced andretracted toward and from each other, with the shirt lying on the lowerpressingmember. For

this motion either or both of said pressing` members may be movable. @neof said members may also have lateral motion relative to the other tomove it intok and out of cooperatingrelation therewith.

ln the drawings, the invention is shown applied to a. pressing` machinein which the upper pressing; member is stationary and colates with twolower pressing* members it successively into cooperating relaith theupper pressing` member, there- #bling the operator to apply to and ari ea shirt upon one pressing); member wlale a previously :.ranpged shirt isbeing pressed bythe other pressing member'. The marl ie shown eomprisesa suitable frame l i 2 which supports the rigid nele upper pressing'member 3. Said is provided atl one side with a vertical rt or post 1i.-on which is mounted a frame 5 turning about the vertical axis of said1nd comprising two oppositely disposed arms (i whose ends are formed toprovide sleeves 7 in which are located depending posts 8 slidablevertically in said sleeves and at their upper ends attached to the lowerpressing members 9, the one only of which is shown. Said two lowerpressing members are et identical 'form and are Connected to the trarne5 and operate in the same manner, so that a description of one willsntce for both.

Directly below the upper pressing member 3 the base l0 of the main frameis provided with a vertically slidable plunger ll. Ey rotating* theframe 5 the two lower presse: members may be brought successively .lutoposition; over said plunger, asshown in Fig. l, and by elevating theplunger its upper end enters the sleeve 7, locks the trame 5 againstlateral movement, and moves the lower pressing` member upwardly intoengagement with the upper pressing member for pressing the shirt. Theplunger 11 may be operated in any suitable manner, the drawings showingfor this purpose a pivoted lever l2, one of whose arms engages thebottom ot the plunger il, and whoseother arm is connected by a rod 13 toa cross head 14: sliding on the Vertical frame posts l5 and rigidlyattached to the rod i6 oi a piston 17 sliding' in the cylinder i8, towhich fluid pressure, such as rompressed air or steam, may be admittedthrough a conduit 19. rlhe tlow ot pressure to said cylinder, and itsexhaust therefrom are controlled by a suitable valve (not shown)connected to the pipe 19, as will be readily understood.

The shirt to be pressed, indicated a y ji, liolded in the usual form andlaid upon the lower pressing member, as shown in Fig. The appearance otthe shirt and its desirability in trade are greatly enhanced, it thecollar Vand the yoke and other partsv of the shirt adjacent thereto canbe pressed down flat without wrinkles or folds symmetrically disposedwith reference to the body oi the shirt. For example, the folds 20 inthe portions of the yoke at the sides ot the collar, the seam 2l betweenthe back of the neck band and yoke, and the told 22 between the back otthe neck band and collar sli; uld preferably extend in lines trulytrans-rer to thev longitudinally extending button-hole strip 23, whilethe exposed iront portions 24 ot the collar must lie flatwithoutwrinkles and symmetrically disposed o n either side ot' the button-holestrip. rlfhis desirable arrangement is secured by the use ot a pressingplate or form 25, which may be made ott sheet metal or other stilimaterial, and which is laid upon the shirt while in position on thelower pressing rEhe pressing torm is of peculiar shape, one of its endsbeing' cut outto Vform a ii-shaped recess with substantially straightedges 2G inclined to each other, on either side ot which are smallerxi-shaped recesses or notches 27, forming outwardly extending tf-shapedpoints or projections 28. The rest or" the torni is a plain flat sheetlarge enough to completely cover the entire shirt. rllhe operator laysthe shirt upon the lower prest-Jing` member and slips the voints 28 otthe 'form beneath the side portions et the collar, stretching the collarparts to approximately corrcct 'position and pushing the form plateuj'rtoward the collar until the edges 26 of the large V-shaped slotarefully seated beneath the collar, as shown in Fig. 2. These substantiallystraight edges permit the side collar portions4 to be stretched orpulled down dat without wrinkles, with ,the/folds 29 between said collarportions and the neck band extending in substantially straightdiverginglines. The opening in the collar, through which the seamexposed .is theretore substantiallyr an equilateral triangle. The inneredges of `the notches 2T also torni outwardly inclined tolds 30 in thecollar on either .side or" the shirt.

rlie shirt, arranged on the lower pressing member as described, may beimmediately subjected to the pressing operation by moving the lowerpressing member into position beneath its cooperating upper pressing`meniber. The exposed side portions ot the collar, however, are limp andusually will not lic down ilat. Moreover, the operator lmust remove herhands from said collar portions to allow the pressing members to bebrought into pressing relation with each other and the collar portionsma y' become disarranged while moving the two pressing members intopressing` relation. Suitable means is preterably therefore provided torholding the exposed parts ot the collar, and in `fact all otthe parts ofthe shirt adjacent the collar, in their previously arranged positions,so that they will be pressed in the manner intended by the operator.This means comprises a holding plate, indicated at 3l, which is movablyconnected to the lower pressing m mbcr and is e r1.pted to be moved toeither ot two positions, in one ot which it is at one side of the lowerpressing member, allowing tree access by the oper-at r to the shirt, andin the other or" which it lies over the shirt land is yieldingly presseddown against the same to retain it properly arranged position. vi thislatter position the holdplate jfreteraliily also has a sliding morcmenlong the shirt, a plane parallel with the of the pressing member, firstengaging the shirt .in a manner to only cover a portion oit thecollarleaVing the lower ends thereof exposed, as in dotted lines, 2, sothat the ope ator can gradually withdraw her hngers from the collar asaid plate slides down over the same to completely corer it, asindicated by the full and dot and dash lines, Fig." 2.

rlhe holding plate may be arranged in any suitable manner to secure thetwo positions and the motion describen. As shown in the drawings it isached at one edge to two sh -t arms 32 piyoted at 33 upon a lll-shapedtrame 34 whose arms are rigidly connected s by setscrews 35, to turnwith shatt merr iers 3G roJ .table in two supports 37 attached tobrackets 38 mounted on the collar end of the lower pressing member. Saidsupports are provided with elongated vertical slots 39 through whichtheclamping bolts il() are threaded into said brackets, so that thesupports may be adjusted vertically relative to the lower pressingmember to compensate for the various thicknesses of the padding 4l onsaid member and to permit the plate 31 to be brought down into closefitting position upon the shirt. In front of the pivot 33 the cross bar42 of the i-shaped frame has an upper fiat face 43, and in theinoperative position of the holding plate, shown in dotted lines-inFigs. 3 and 4, said plate is held against said fiat face by a tensionspring 44 connected at one end to said plate and at its opposite end toa fixed support 45. In said inoperative position, also, the spring is atthe left of the pivot shafts 36, as shown in Fig. 4, so that said springtends to hold the plate in the inoperative position. Furthermore, one orboth of the arms of the U-shaped frame 34 are provided with stop pins 46which engage the fixed supports 37 and limit the outward movement ofsaid plate.

One of the shaft members 36 is provided with an operating handle 47,which extends upwardly in the inoperative position of the plate, butwhich may be turned down toward the position shown in full lines, Fig.4, thereby switching the spring 44 to a position at the right of thepivot shaft members 36 where said spring tends to press the holdingplate yieldingly downward upon the shirt. During the'first movement ofthe holding plate toward the shirt it is held in contact with the iiatouter face 43 of the U-shaped frame, and first engages the shirt in theposition shown in dotted lines Fig. 2 and in full lines Fig. 5, leavingthe free ends of the collar exposed. The operator therefore can hold herfingers on the said collar ends while pulling the holding plate down toposition. The handle 47 is then advanced still farther until the pins 46engage stops 48. This movement causes the frame 42 to move in aclockwise direction, Fig. 5,` which advances the plate with a slidingmotion over the shirt by engagement therewith to the position shown infull and dot and dash lines Fig; 2, and in dotted lines Fig. 5. Duringthis motion the fiat face 43 of the U-shaped frame moves away from theplate, to the position shown in Fig. 4and, as said plate moves over theshirt, the operator gradually withdraws her fingers from the collar sothat when said plate reaches its final position, the collar vis helddown in fiat form and without wrinkles previously arranged by theoperator. rlhe lower pressing member, with the shirt thereon, is thenmoved laterally to pressing position beneath the upper pressing member,as shown in Fig. l, and is advanced with pressure into pressing relationwith the-upper member forpressing the shirt.

In the form of apparatus so far described, they pressing plate or formhas a plain V- shaped central notch or recess to fit the collar, and thetop button. 49 between the collar ends is hidden under the plate. 6

shows a modified form of pressing plate or form in which the V-shapedcentral notch terminates in a short narrow recess or slot 50 withparallel side edges. This plate is pushed up into position under thecollar, as before, but with adjacent portions of the collar entering andheld in the narrow recess or slot 50, said collar portions being,therefore, drawn closely together so as to cover and conceal the topbutton, which may also enter the slot but preferably lies wholly beneaththe pressing plate or form. This plate is, therefore, adapted forpressing shirts where the manufacturer desires to conceal the topbutton, as he frequently does. It may be used in connection with amovable holding plate of the same form before described and in the samemanner.

Both the upper and lower pressing members are preferably heated by steamor other heating fluid introduced into hollow chambers therein, or inany other manner, as is usual. The upper pressing member has a plainmetal pressing surface, while the lower pressing member is padded in anysuitable manner, as before stated. The shirt to be pressed may bemoistened or not, as desired. Usually the shirt has already absorbedsufficient moisture from the atmosphere to enable it to be pressed, butit may be dampened with water or moistened by a supplyof steamdischarged thereon in a well known manner. When the pressing members areadvanced toward each other, the pressing plate or form and the holdingplate, when it is used, are crushed down upon the shirt and pressure isapplied thereto.l so as to press the same. The exposed portions of the'collar lying above the pressing plate or form are pressed between saidplate and the overlying holding plate, but withoutl the production ofany imprint of the collar upon the adjacent body portions of the shirt.The padding on the lower pressing member is preferably so arranged as tcyield sufiiciently to avoid injury to the shirt buttons.

It will, of course, be understood that each pressing machine is providedwith a complete outfit o-f pressing forms or plates 25, cut andproportioned for various sizes of shirt. Several such plates or formsare provided for each size, so that one shirt can be arranged on onepressing member while another vshirt is being pressed on the other. Thesame holding plate will serve for various sizes of shirts. n

rllhe apparatus described enables shirts to be arranged in symmetricalform and position and so held while pressing, and not only avoidsunsightly wrinkles and folds in the garment, but also prevents leavingan imprint of the collar upon the shirt. It thereby enhances theappearance and value of the shirt and enables increased prices to besecnred therefor.- It can bef manipulated by unskilled operators and maybe applied to any form of pressing machine.

llVhat l claim is 1. A garment pressing'machine, comprising upper andlower relatively movable pressing members, and a pressing plate ol; formupon which the garment is arranged, said plate or form having a recessin one end with substantially straight diverging edges for receiving andholding the collar during the pressing operation and at the same timestretching the folded side edges of said collar at the neclrband intoabnormal form to form a V shaped straight sided neck opening in thecollar.

2. A garment pressing machine, comprising upper and lower relativelymovable pressing members, a pressing plate or form upon which thegarment is arranged, said plate or form having a recess in one end withsubstantially straight diverging edges for receiving and holding thecollar during the pressing operation,.and a holding plate lying abovesaid pressing plate or form holding the garment collar down upon thesame, and means for yieldingly pressing said holding plate down upon thegarment when said pressing members are out of cooperative pressingrelation.

3. A garment pressing machine, comprising upper and lower relativelymovable pressing members, collar holding means adapted to be moved to aposition over the collar of a garment on said lower member, and meansfor advancing said holding` means bodily along the collar.

4. A shirt pressing machine, comprising upper and lower relativelymovable pressing members, a coperating plate therefor having a shirtcollar engaging portion of approximately the same shape and size' as thecollar, said plate being movably mounted upon the lower pressing memberand movable into and out of a position in which the lower holdingportion thereof lies over the collar of a shirt on the lower pressingmember. v

5. A shirt pressing machine, comprising upper and lower relativelymovable pressing members, a cooperating plate therefor having a shirtcollar engaging portion of approximately the same shape and size as thecollar,said plate beingmovably mounted upon the lower pressing memberand movable into and out of a'position inwhieh the lower holding portionthereof lies over the collar of a shirt on the lower pressing member,and means for moving said plate when in position over the collar in aplane parallel with the face of the lower pressing member.

6. A shirt pressing machine, comprising upper and'lower relativelymovable pressing members, a cooperating plate therefor having a shirtcollar engaging portion of approximately the same shape and size as the'collar, said plate being movably mounted upon the lower pressing memberand movable into and out of a position in which the lower holdingportion thereof lies over the colla-r of a shirt on the lower pressinginember, means for moving said plate when in position over the collar ina plane parallel with the face of the lower pressing member, and meansfor yieldingly pressing said plate down upon the shirt collar when saidpressing members are out of cooperating pressing relation.

7. A garment pressing machine, comprising upper and lower relativelymovable pressing members, and a plate hinged to said lower member andarranged to swing to a position over the same for holding the garment inpressing position, and means permitting said plate to slide over thegarment in a plane parallel with the faces of the pressing members.

8. A garment pressing machine, comprising upper and lower relativelymovable pressing members, a plate hinged to said lower member andarranged to swing to a position over the same for holding the garment inpressing position, and a spring for'pressing said plateA yieldingly uponthe garment while said pressing members are out of cooperating pressingrelation.

9. A garment pressing machine, comprising upper and lower relativelymovable pressing members, a plate, supporting means therefor arranged topermit said plate to swing to a position over the said lower member forholding the garment in pressing position, and also to have vslidingmovement over the garment, and a spring for pressing said plateyieldingly upon the garment while said pressing members are out ofcooperating pressing relation.

l0. A garment pressing machine, comprising upper and lower relativelymovable pressing members, a presserplate or form upon which the garmentis arranged, said plate having a recess in one end with approximatelystraight diverging edges for receiving and holding the collar during thepressing operation, and a holding plate supporting means thereforarrangedV to permit said plate to swing to a position over the pressingplate or form for holding the garment collar in pressing position, andalso to have sliding movement over the garment.

1l. A garment pressing machine, comprising upper and lower relativelymovable pressing members, a pressing plate or form upon which thegarment is arranged,said plate or form having a recess in one end withsubstantially straight diverging edges for receiving and shaping thecollar during the pressing operation and at the same time stretching thefolded side edges of said collar at the neckband to form a V shaped neckopening with straight sides, and means lying above the Collar forholding it down shaping the collar during the pressing opupon said plateWhile said pressing members eration and at the same time stretching thel0 are out of coperating pressing relation. folded side edges of saidcollar at the neck- 12. In a garment pressing machine, a band to form aV-shaped neck opening with 5 pressing plate or form upon Which thegarstraight sides.

ment is arranged, said plate or form having In testimony whereof alix mysignature.

a recess in one end With substantially straight diverging edges forreceiving and BLUFORD W. BROCKETT.

